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Wed Dec 22 09:18am EST

Video: Does Jason Blake deserve extra punishment for Kaleta hit?

By Greg Wyshynski

Patrick Kaleta(notes) of the Buffalo Sabres isn't exactly the most sympathetic character in the NHL, but this hit from behind by Jason Blake(notes) at 13:36 of the first period Tuesday night was a nasty one.

As the WGR live blog termed it: "Jason Blake took an absolute cheap shot hitting Pat Kaleta into the wall from behind and has been excused from the game."

(Kudos to Billy Jaffe of NHL Overtime for jumping in to correct his fuddy-duddy desk-mate that it was Kaleta and not Craig Rivet(notes).)

Kaleta didn't return to the game. Blake was given a five-minute major for boarding and a game misconduct. Buffalo scored its third goal of the period on the ensuing power play, eventually beating the Anaheim Ducks, 5-2.

This is a no-brainer suspension, right? Kaleta had released the puck, Blake saw his numbers, he drove Kaleta's head into the glass; and, since the NHL's always considering these things, there was an injury on the play.

Spin the Wheel of Justice and get out your flow chart: How many games does Blake get? Or is a major and a gamer punishment enough?

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